DATE RAPE DRUGS
Q. What are "date rape" drugs? A. The term "date rape" drug refers to illegal drugs that are sometimes used to overpower victims and sexually assault them. Presently, the two most common date rape drugs are gamma-hydroxybutyrate and flunitrazepam. Gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB) has been associated with sexual assault in cities throughout the country. GHB is a clear liquid or white powder that is often mixed with a carbonated, alcohol, or health food drink and is reportedly popular among adolescents and young adults. It generates feelings of euphoria or intoxication and was once sold in health food stores as a performance-enhancing supplement for body builders. Banned by the FDA since 1990, this drug makes its victim unable to resist an attack and also causes memory loss. Police departments have reported its use during spring-break beach festivals. In Michigan, a 15-year-old girl died after taking the drug, and several teenagers have been hospitalized elsewhere in the country. It is also called "G," "Georgia Home Boy," "liquid ecstasy" (not to be confused with ecstasy), "somatomax," "scoop," or "grievous bodily harm." Flunitrazepam is a powerful sleeping pill that is better known by its brand name Rohypnol (pronounced row-HIP-nole). This medicine, approximately 10 times stronger than Valium (diazepam), is neither approved for medical use, nor made or sold legally in the United States. However, it is made and prescribed legally in other countries for the treatment of insomnia (difficulty sleeping) and is then illegally smuggled into the United States. It is often used with alcohol or other drugs such as cocaine or heroine. Being under the influence of this drug is sometimes referred to as being "roached out." Other street names for Rohypnol include: rophies, roofies, R2, roofenol, Roche, roachies, la rocha, rope, rib, circles, Mexican valium, roach-2, roopies, and ropies. It is important that you educate yourself about these drugs and learn how best to protect yourself. Although the following paragraphs describe the increasing use of Rohypnol throughout the United States, both GHB and Rohypnol are dangerous drugs and using either of them can be devastating. Q. What does Rohypnol look like? A. The tablets are white, although counterfeit street versions may have a brownish-pink color. The tablets will have the word "ROCHE" on one side and an encircled "1" or "2" (depending on the dosage) on the other. For the most part, the pills have no color, smell or taste once they are dissolved in alcohol, soft drinks, water or any other liquid. A few users have reported a slightly bitter taste when the drug is mixed with alcohol. A. Increasing numbers of teenagers and young adults use this dangerous drug to create a "dramatic" high, usually in combination with alcohol. Q. Why has there been an increase in teen use of Rohypnol? A. First, Rohypnol is a low-cost drug, usually sold at less than $5 per tablet. Second, many young people wrongly believe it's a relatively harmless drug and that it is safe to buy because it comes in a pre-sealed, tamper-proof bubble pack. Third, many people mistakenly think that the drug cannot be detected with a urine test. Q. What happens if a person takes Rohypnol? A. Ultimately, this drug can cause a person to do and say things she would not normally want to. Because it has no strong taste or odor, victims whose drinks have been poisoned with Rohypnol don't realize what is happening. Within 10-30 minutes after taking Rohypnol, a person may feel dizzy and disoriented. She will become confused and unable to make clear decisions. She may appear to be drunk, have blood-shot eyes and slurred speech. A person will feel too hot and too cold at the same time or feel nauseated. Ultimately, a person will find it difficult to speak and move, as she slowly loses coordination and control of her body before passing out. These effects peak within two hours, and can last up to eight hours. When combined with alcohol, marijuana, cocaine or other drugs, Rohypnol is particularly dangerous because it leaves the victim with no memory of what has happened. "Blackouts" lasting eight to 24 hours are commonly reported among victims who become intoxicated on a combination of alcohol and Rohypnol. A. Yes. You can become physically dependent on this drug. Withdrawal symptoms include headache, muscle pain, confusion, hallucinations and convulsions. Seizures can occur up to a week after you stop using Rohypnol. Q. Why is Rohypnol called a "date rape" drug? A. Because of its ability to make victims lose self control and forget what happened during significant periods of time, Rohypnol has been used by criminals to rape unsuspecting victims. Girls and women around the country have reported being raped after Rohypnol was slipped into their drink by their attacker, causing them to let down their guard, fall asleep, or even become unconscious. Because it has no taste or odor, the victims usually don't realize what is happening. Rohypnol also has been called the "forget pill," "trip-and-fall," and "mind-eraser." Q. What can I do to avoid becoming a victim of a date rape drug? A. Remember that these drugs are odorless, colorless and tasteless and can be added to ANY drink — even water.
Saying no to sex when you want to is a given. But what if you CAN'T say no? What if, the next day, you don't even remember being asked, or how you got to where you are, or who you were with? Worse still, what if you DON'T wake up at all? Recently, a number of drugs which have been used for the
purpose of committing rape have come to the attention of sex
educators and health workers, and SIECUS, the Sexuality
Information and Education Council of the United States, has
issued a report today outlining some of those drugs, and a
few helpful tips on what you can do to protect yourself.
Read up on what they have to say, and think about what
measures you can take to take care of yourself and keep from
becoming a victim.  Scopolamine
- World's Scariest
Drug VICE's Ryan Duffy went to Colombia to check out a strange and powerful drug called Scopolamine, also known as "The Devil's Breath." It's a substance so intense that it renders a person incapable of exercising free will. The first few days in the country were a harrowing montage of freaked-out dealers and unimaginable horror stories about Scopolamine. After meeting only a few people Fact Sheet: Drug
Facilitated Sexual Assault In recent years, drug-facilitated sexual assault has become a growing concern among health and community educators. A number of drugs have become known as "date rape drugs" or "predatory drugs" because they are used to incapacitate individuals for the purposes of committing a crime, often sexual assault. Alcohol is the drug most commonly associated with sexual assault, but incidents involving other drugs are on the rise. These drugs, also called "club drugs" because of their popularity in dance clubs and bars, can be unknowingly given to a victim, incapacitate the victim, and prevent him/her from resisting during a sexual assault or other crime. They can also produce amnesia causing a victim to be unclear of what, if any, crime was committed. These drugs are particularly dangerous when combined with alcohol. As with any coerced sexual activity, victims of drug-facilitated sexual assault cannot protect themselves from HIV, other sexually transmitted diseases, or unintended pregnancy. This fact sheet to provide information on two of the most common predatory drugs, as well as suggestions for preventing drug-facilitated crimes. GHB GHB stands for gamma hydroxybutyrate, a central nervous
system sedative often referred to by other names such as
"Grievous Bodily Harm" and "Liquid Ecstasy." GHB was once
sold in health food stores as a performance enhancer for
body builders because it was believed to stimulate the
production of human growth hormone. In 1990, the FDA banned
the use of GHB because of reports of severe, uncontrollable
side effects. GHB can produce drowsiness, dizziness, nausea,
unconsciousness, seizures, severe respiratory depression,
and coma. Overdose of GHB can occur quickly and can be
fatal. Since 1990, there have been 5,700 documented cases of
GHB abuse and more than 30 reported sexual assaults and 65
deaths attributed to this drug. Most of the GHB used today
is a "homemade" mix of various chemical ingredients,
including solvents. Homemade GHB is dangerous in part
because there are significant differences in potency,
purity, and concentration. The same amount taken from two
separate batches can have very different effects. GHB is
available both in liquid and powder forms. It is usually
odorless and tasteless and therefore can be easily slipped
unnoticed into a drink. Rohypnol Rohypnol is a brand name for Flunitrazepam, a powerful
sedative that is often referred to by other names such as
"roofies" and "roach." Rohypnol is not legally available for
prescription in the United States but is legal in 60
countries for the treatment of insomnia. Rohypnol may cause
users to feel intoxicated; they may have slurred speech,
impaired judgment, and difficulty walking. The effects are
often felt within 10 minutes and can last up to eight hours.
Rohypnol can cause deep sedation, respiratory distress, and
blackouts that can last up to 24 hours. There is a potential
for overdose or death to occur, especially when mixed with
alcohol or other drugs. Rohypnol is available in small white
tablets that can be taken orally, ground up in a drink, or
snorted. In 1997, the manufacturer of Rohypnol changed the
formula so that it turns blue/green and can be more easily
detected when added to liquids.
(Reprinted with permission from SHOP Talk, published by the Sexuality Informaiton and Education Council of the United States, 130 West 42nd Street, Suite 350, New York, NY 10036-7802.) Don't forget basic safety standards when you're out in
general. If you're going out to a club or party, always
bring a friend that you know you can trust, and keep your
eyes on one another. Don't ever go off alone or become
sexually engaged (and yes, I'm even talking about kissing)
with someone you have just met, and, no matter what age you
are, it is never wise to get incapacitated at places like
parties and clubs with people you do not know, and cannot
trust. As much as it stinks, we cannot trust everyone we
meet, and the safest thing to do is to insist anyone you
meet earn your trust, over a long period of time, and in a
non-sexual sphere. www.clubdrugs.org - This Web site is a service of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). The term "club drugs" refers to those drugs commonly used by young adults at all night dance parties, "raves," and bars. They include MDMA (Ecstasy), GHB, Rohypnol, Ketamine (Special K), Methamphetamine, and LSD. NIDA-supported research has shown that use of club drugs can cause serious health problems and, in some cases, even death. This Web site provides information on each of these drugs, as well as links to NIDA newsletters, publications, and other related information on the Web. www.nsawi.health.org/compass -The National Substance Abuse Web Index (NSAWI) has been developed by the National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information (NCADI) to assist the substance abuse prevention and treatment communities in obtaining relevant, authoritative information available on the World Wide Web. This index of Web sites includes only those sites that are considered by NCADI to be the most useful for prevention and treatment. You can find out more about Rohypnol by contacting: American Council for Drug Education, 800.488.3784,
www.acde.org
American Society of Addiction Medicine,
301.656.3920, www.asam.org
Association for Medical Education and Research in
Substance Abuse, 401.444.1817, www.amersa.org
National Institute on Drug Abuse, 888.NIH.NIDA
(644.6432), www.drugabuse.gov/ClubAlert/ClubdrugAlert.html
National Women's Health Information Center, 800.994.9662) Source: www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/EMIHC276/23414/23416/351515.html?d=dmtContent
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